Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 May 2012
136 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps he is taking to address problems with flooding in Dublin as a result of poor weather; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24453/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFlood risk management and mitigation, including development of a national flood forecasting and warning system, are the responsibility of the Office of Public Works. Questions relating to surface water drainage issues which may contribute to flooding are a matter for the local authorities in the Dublin area. The response to flooding incidents is delivered by the Principal Response Agencies (the relevant local authorities, An Garda Síochána and the HSE), and is led and co-ordinated by the relevant local authority. The Principal Response Agencies respond to flooding in accordance with the 2006 Framework for Emergency Management, each agency operating under its Major Emergency Plan, and working with a range of other bodies and agencies which have roles to play.
The co-ordination and response management arrangements may be invoked to manage a flooding incident, whether a major emergency is declared or not. The Government-approved Framework requires local authorities to prepare severe weather plans and flood emergency plans, as sub-plans of their Major Emergency Plan. I understand that all local authorities have Severe Weather Plans in place and, where a local risk assessment process so indicates, have Flood Emergency Plans also. If a major emergency is declared because of flooding my Department is designated as Lead Government Department and co-ordinates the "whole of Government" response at national level, primarily in support of the local response effort.
The co-ordination arrangements in the Framework for Major Emergency Management were embedded across the Principal Response Agencies during a two-year Major Emergency Development Programme from 2006 to 2008. This was overseen by an inter-Departmental Major Emergency Management National Steering Group comprising representatives of my Department, and the Departments of Justice and Equality, Health, Defence and Transport. These arrangements were used to manage severe weather emergencies in the winters of 2009 and 2010. In accordance with the provisions of the Framework, reviews of these responses have been carried out, and further recommendations arising from the review process continue to be implemented through on-going inter-agency preparedness arrangements.
